Norway Killer Wanted to Bomb Royal Palace

Anders Behring Breivik initially planned to bomb three targets, including the Royal Palace; says he supports the monarchy.

By Gabe Kahn

First Publish: 4/20/2012, 12:13 AM

Anders Behring Breivik

Reuters

Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik's original plans called for attacks on numerous government targets, including the Royal Palace.

In the fourth day of his trial for his 22 July 2011 murder of 77 people, Breivik said Thursday he had originally intended to attack Oslo's government district, the Labor Party's office and a third target, and the royal palace.

"There would be three car bombs, followed by a firearm-based action," Breivik told the court.

He had several options for the third target.

"I settled on the palace in a setting where the royal family wouldn't be hurt," he said. "Most nationalists and cultural conservatives are supporters of the monarchy, including myself."

The self styled anti-Muslim militant said the three bombs would be followed by several shooting massacres, if he survived. Earlier on Thursday, Breivik testified he estimated his chances of surviving were "slim."

He testified that he decided against multiple bombs because building one was "much more difficult than I thought."

Breivik has already confessed to setting off a car bomb outside the government headquarters on July 22, killing 8, and then opening fire at a Labor Party youth camp outside the capital, killing 69.

Instead, the trial is focused on establishing whether he is criminally insane. Previous psychiatric evaluations produced conflicting results.

Prosecutors argue that the militant Knights Templar group that Breivik describes in his 1,500 page manifesto does not exist and is a product of his delusional perceptions of reality.

If found sane, Breivik could face a maximum 21-year prison sentence – which he described as ‘pathetic’ – or an alternate custody arrangement that would keep him locked up as long as he is considered a menace to society.

Breivik, who became visibly agitated when challenged by prosecutors about the Knights Templar on Wednesday, insists the group exists.

If declared insane, he would be committed to psychiatric care for as long as he's considered ill. It would also allow authorities to dismiss his radical right-wing ideology as the ravings of a madman.